Mary Chenoweth served on the faculty of Colorado College from 1953 to 1983, as well as on the staff of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. She was born April 17, 1918, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, spending most of her childhood in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease at 80 years of age on January 14, 1999, in Sidney, Nebraska, where she had moved after her retirement.

She completed general training for the United States Coast Guard Institute in 1945. She attended the Chicago Art Institute and Pratt Institute. She came to Colorado in 1949 and completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at the University of Denver in 1950. She earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in 1953.

Starting in 1953, Chenoweth taught printmaking at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (FAC). In 1957, she became a CC faculty member, first as Graphic Arts Instructor from 1957 to 1963, then Assistant Professor from 1963 to 1972, Associate Professor from 1972 to 1982, and Full Professor upon her retirement in 1983.

Alongside teaching, and after her retirement, Chenoweth was a prolific artist. She was proficient in many art media, including sculpture; woodcarving and woodcut; silkscreen; watercolor and oil painting; pen and ink drawings; etchings; collage; and her unique hand-made postcards. She was constantly experimenting with and expanding the scope of her artwork, which was characterized by abstract compositions, brilliant colors, and varied textures. Her artwork was exhibited nationwide, over a span of many years, and her clients were many. Chenoweth created art up until the time of her death.

During her life, she traveled extensively across the globe, the experience of which influenced and inspired her artwork.

Folder 1: Chenoweth’s studio and home
Folder 2: Chenoweth at work on art or with her art
Folder 3: Chenoweth in babyhood and childhood
Folder 4: Chenoweth in young womanhood and middle life
Folder 5: Chenoweth in later life
Folder 6: Chenoweth’s family and friends
Folder 7: Chenoweth’s travels
Folder 8: Miscellaneous photographs and items belonging to Chenoweth

Folder 7: Chenoweth Diplomas (The United States Coast Guard; The University of Denver, B.A.; The University of Illinois, M.F.A.); certificates of recognition (Alpha Lambda Delta of Colorado College; Historic Denver, Inc. and The Denver Post). And Colorado College Art Department invitation to Chenoweth’s retirement party.

Official Documents (see also Honors, diplomas)
Folder 8:
Birth Certificate; Death Certificate; Witness to Living Will document; Power of Attorney document; Estate Representative document; Passport, 1996

Folder 3b: Correspondence, 2002 and undated, to Peggy Marshall from Lois Ham (Chenoweth’s sister); includes black-and-white photo portrait of Chenoweth “to be used at exhibit,” two color photos of Chenoweth, and one photo of a piece of art.

Folder 4: Correspondence, 1984–1997, mostly to “Peggy and Andy” (Marshall) from Chenoweth, from her post-retirement home of Sidney, Nebraska.

Folder 1: 22 handmade postcards (paintings, collages, chalk drawings) addressed to Duffy, 1992-1997, one with a drawing, one with four snapshots of Chenoweth’s work, one written on a photocopy of Chenoweth’s drawing of Alexandria, Egypt. 1 handmade postcard, not addressed. 1 collaborative postcard by Chenoweth and Duffy, addressed to Chenoweth.